CVE-2017-3868 in UCS Director
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco UCS Director could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web-based management interface of an affected device. More Information: CSCvc44344. Known Affected Releases: 6.0(0.0).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3868 resides within the web-based management interface of Cisco UCS Director software, specifically affecting version 6.0(0.0) and potentially other releases within the same lineage. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's input validation mechanisms, where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to web browsers. The vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of input parameters within the web interface, creating an environment where malicious actors can inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by legitimate users. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft malicious input that gets processed by the web interface and subsequently executed within the context of a victim's browser session. Since the attack does not require authentication credentials, it represents a significant risk to all users who access the affected web interface, particularly system administrators who may be logged in with elevated privileges. The attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code within the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates entirely through web-based interfaces without requiring any special privileges or access to the underlying system.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-3868 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attacks that compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the entire management environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially steal administrative sessions, modify critical configuration parameters, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate. The vulnerability affects the web-based management interface, which serves as the primary administrative access point for Cisco UCS Director, making it a high-value target for malicious actors seeking to gain unauthorized access to enterprise data center management systems. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector that could remain active until properly patched, potentially allowing attackers to maintain long-term access to critical infrastructure components.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the latest security patches released by Cisco, which address the input validation weaknesses in the web interface. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the management interface to trusted networks only. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can help detect and prevent malicious script injection attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to execute malicious scripts and potentially harvest credentials through social engineering attacks. Regular security monitoring and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other web applications and management interfaces within the organization's infrastructure.